Audio: Missouri House Committee to hear testimony this week on transgender athlete legislation

A Missouri House committee will meet Monday to discuss whether they’ll hear remote testimony this week on legislation involving transgender high school athletes. Rocheport GOP State Representative Chuck Basye is sponsoring the House joint resolution and says this is an important issue.     Basye’s legislation would require that students who participate in sex-separated athletic […]

Vaccine Distribution or Covid-19 or Coronavirus

Audio: Next phase of COVID-19 plan, beginning March 15, includes teachers, faculty and staff in Missouri schools

The next tier of Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan will be activated on March 15. That means all teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre-K-12 will become eligible. So will state-licensed childcare center workers, some food production employees, as well as grocery and convenience stores workers. Missouri is currently vaccinating residents in Phase […]

Bible Bullets and Handgun (Concealed Carry)

Audio: Missouri House Committee approves legislation involving concealed firearms in churches

Legislation that would allow Missourians to carry a concealed gun inside churches and other places of worship without the minister’s consent has been approved by a Missouri House committee. House General Laws Committee chairman Curtis Trent announced Thursday afternoon’s close vote.     The bill is sponsored by GOP State Representatives Ben Baker of Neosho […]

Joshlin and Addie Yoder win Leopold Conservation Award

Joshlin and Addie Yoder receive Missouri Leopold Conservation Award

Joshlin and Addie Yoder of Leonard, Missouri, located in Shelby County have been selected as the recipients of the 2020 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®. The award, named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes farmers, ranchers, and foresters who inspire others with their dedication to land, water, and wildlife habitat management on private land. In Missouri, the $10,000 award […]

Coronavirus Stimulus Payment Graphic

Audio: Bipartisan support in Missouri legislature involving federal stimulus checks and taxation

There is bipartisan support for legislation ensuring that Missourians cannot be taxed on their federal stimulus checks. Missouri House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith of Carthage presented his bill Wednesday in Jefferson City,     Smith tells lawmakers it’s important to act, noting that under Missouri’s tax code, federal stimulus checks related to COVID are […]

Missouri Department of Conservation Website

Audio: Missouri Conservation Department Director testifies against proposal to increase conservation commission’s size

The Missouri Department of Conservation director has testified against a proposal to increase the size of the Conservation Commission from four to nine, saying it could lead to regional favoritism. Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley testified last (Monday) night during a lengthy House committee hearing in Jefferson City.     Conservation director Sara Parker Pauley […]

Tractor supply Company

Audio: Tractor Supply is focusing on regulatory approval involving acquisition of Orscheln, otherwise, “It’s business as usual”

A company that’s acquired Moberly-based Orscheln Farm and Home says it’s business as usual for now.       Tennessee-based Tractor Supply Company has purchased Moberly-based Orscheln in an all-cash transaction for $297 million.  A Tractor Supply spokeswoman says “That it’s business as usual right now for those stores and that no other plans have […]

Josh Hawley official Congressional photo

Hawley, members of Missouri delegation ask for review of natural gas supply

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and members of the Missouri Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission asking for a review of the natural gas supply in light of electricity outages, rolling blackouts, and controlled service interruptions across Missouri and the Midwest during extreme winter weather.    “Due to […]

Unemployment Graphic

Missouri House committee votes to forgive federal unemployment debts

(Missouri Independent) – Thousands of Missourians facing repayment of mistakenly paid unemployment benefits would get some relief under legislation passed with a bipartisan vote Wednesday in a Missouri House committee. The bill, which will likely be debated on the House floor next week, would forgive debts due to overpayments from federal coronavirus relief programs but would not […]